[TimM]

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Edit: With that in mind, is Qe7 playable, or is there some instant disaster if that is played?

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I think that allows Bg5 since Ne4 Bxe7 Nxc3 Bxf8 is not playable. And Qe4+ f3 Qxe2+ Rf2 followed by Bxf6 is pretty destructive.

Strega:

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Sort figured after b3, he's not really thinking about Bg5. I think the message is that he likes his bishop and is not looking to trade in the near future....

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True but sometimes that Bg5 move will wreck our position so badly that of course he will play it in that case. We'd like to trade his e-pawn for our d-pawn, not our g-pawn.

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did you consider him playing 17. Qf3

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(after 16...Re8)

I think we can still play Qe7 there (Bg5 Qxe2 Bxf6 Qxf3+), or maybe Ne4.